McLaren F1 team aim for new title sponsor in 2018

The McLaren Formula 1 team has a bigger budget for 2017 despite the continuing lack of a title sponsor, executive director Zak Brown revealed at the launch of the MCL32.

While the new largely orange livery attracted plenty of attention as the car was unveiled on Friday, there was little evidence of commercial changes bar Castrol replacing Exxon Mobil as oil partner.

But Brown, who joined McLaren in December following Ron Dennis’s departure, insists the team has all it needs to improve its performance thanks to further investment from controlling shareholders Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company and Mansour Ojjeh.

Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat holds a 50 percent stake in the team while Saudi-born businessman Mansour Ojjeh and recently ousted former boss Ron Dennis each have 25 percent.

“Sheikh Mohamed and Mansour Ojjeh have increased our budget in areas, so we have everything we need,” said Brown.

“Now we just need it to work and a little bit of time for it to come together.”

“2018 is when we need to deliver a title partner. I already feel that pressure because it takes a year. So I am counting down the days.

“I haven’t really seen any new sponsor announcements on any car, including those that have won the championship for three years in a row,” added Brown, alluding to Mercedes.

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